The territory of Farnese was inhabited since the Bronze Age (XII-X Sec. A.C.) of which we have reports thanks to the numerous traces still visible of an extended village of huts and fragments of pottery.
In Etruscan times the territory was under the Farnese vulcente domain. Many Etruscan remains were also found along the river Olpeta, including the necropolis of Navilgione and Palomabro and the monumental tomb of Gottimo.
After the Roman conquest of Vulci, in 280 A.C. the territory passed to Rome. In the Republican Era and throughout the imperial period many villa rustica, farms and pages were rised.
In medieval times the Lombards occupied the remains of Roman villas and farms; so around 817 P.C. Farnese became part of the "Tuscia Langobardorum".
Throughout the thirteenth century Farnese was subdued to Orvieto; infact the initial presence of the Farnese family, to whom it owes many buildings throughout the town, dates to this epoch.
The family fortune begins with Ranuccio, Pope Paul III's grandfather (Alessandro Farnese, who was elected Pope in 1534): Ranuccio became the fact banker of the Apostolic Camera.
The first real Lord of the Town was Pier Bertoldo Farnese, and one of his sons, Galeazzo II, was the promoter of important provisions on administration of the estate. To Mario Farnese then are recorded some Statutes and buildings, such as the Capuchin monastery and the construction of a new district of the village.
The glory of Farnese was destinated to decline therefore the Farnese Duchy was soon sold to Cardinal Chigi Flaminio.
In 1798 Napoleon's troops removed the possession of Farnese from the Chigi Family. Later, the village become part of the Roman Republic, then it got back under the dominion of the Church. It was acquired by the Torlonia and, after the unification of Italy, it passed to the Italian State.